News Contact:Office of Communications and Community Relations
415.485.9648

Campus Police Schedule Active Shooter Training

KENTFIELD, CA—July 23, 2014—Community members may observe an increased police presence at College of Marin’s Kentfield Campus on Friday, but there is no cause for alarm. College of Marin and Ross Police Departments will be in an active shooter training session on Friday, July 25, from 8 a.m. to noon in TB-1.

COM Sergeant Todd Kidder stated that the scenario-based training will take place primarily inside the building, but that officers may be seen running outside to access various entry points as part of the exercise. This type of training has become critical as the number of school shootings has increased rapidly in recent years. Responding officers have to react accordingly based on set policies and procedures. “Scenario-based training gives officers the opportunity to react in different situations and then debrief as a group to critique the response.” said Kidder.

Officers will practice concepts and principles of team movement; approaching and breaching the crisis site; rescue team tactics; and isolating, distracting, and ending the threat with an engaged active shooter. Police officers receive critical incident training on an ongoing basis and Friday’s training is part of this proactive effort to prepare for a situation, should it occur.

The College also has held campus safety workshops for employees and students that included general emergency preparedness information as well as how to best prepare and respond should there be an active shooter situation on campus. Future workshops are planned and will be announced once the fall semester is underway.

Sergeant Todd Kidder is the contact person for Friday’s session, and can be reached via dispatch at 415.485.9696 if necessary.

College of Marin is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges and is one of 112 public community colleges in California. Approximately 11,000 credit and noncredit students enroll annually.